Thug told pregnant nurse he would "massacre" her family

John Paul Barrow, 36, from Mullion Road in Norris Green, was jailed for 12 months at Liverpool Crown Court today for threatening a witness, criminal damage, breaching a restraining order and breaching a suspended sentence. (Image: Handout)

An obsessed thug who threatened to “massacre” a pregnant nurse’s family subjected her to a barrage of sinister threats in revenge for speaking to police.

John Barrow left a series of abusive voicemail messages within weeks of being slapped with a restraining order.

Barrow, from Mullion Road in Gillmoss , was jailed for 12 months at Liverpool Crown Court today for threatening a witness, criminal damage, breaching a restraining order and breaching a suspended sentence.

The 36-year-old had received the 12 week suspended prison sentence after leaving the victim and mother of his two children, Danielle Crossland, “shaking with fear” - but breached a restraining order within weeks. The court heard the trouble started when he failed to accept the end of his relationship with then pregnant Ms Crossland, leading him to leave a series of terrifying voicemails.

One said: “Pregnant or not I’m going to punch your face in, whether I have to drag you out of the house or at (the children's school), I’m at the point where I will massacre the family and kill myself.”

Iain Criddle, prosecuting, said the latest offences began only four weeks after he was handed the suspended sentence and restraining order.

He said Ms Crossland received a series of emails from the defendant on February 10, which she deleted, before receiving a number text messages.

Mr Criddle told the court: “The defendant is saying various things like she is ‘bang to rights’ and answer the phone, and that she is a liar, on numerous occasions.

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“Ms Crossland said that she wants him to stop getting in touch and that she is going to phone the police and that she is sick of him contacting her.”

But the court from around 6.30am Barrow turned up at the terrified woman’s address on four separate occasions.

On each occasion he banged on the front door demanding to be let in, and would then leave for around half an hour before returning.

Barrow was also witnessed kicking the wing mirror off Ms Crossland’s Renault car.

Mr Criddle said by the end of the day Barrow had called her mobile 22 times screaming abuse, accusing her of lying to get him locked up over Christmas in relation to the previous case.

The court heard Barrow was arrested but made no comment in his police interviews.

Ms Crossland said her children’s school had been put on alert and the police had put markers on her and her mum’s house.

Mr Criddle, referring to a victim personal statement, said: “She explains that the incidents affected her in many ways. She feels horrible and drained as a result of being distressed and fearful on a daily basis.

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“Her life has been ruined and overtaken by stress and she has found it hard to do normal things with her family. She is constantly having to reassure her children who have seen a lot. She hardly sleeps worrying about what will happen next.”

Stephen Polson, defending, told the court his client had reacted badly to the end of the relationship, but expressed remorse when he read transcripts of the voicemails.

He said: “He could not believe he had been so angry, rash and irrational but he said ‘I will accept full responsibility.”

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones, sentencing, said: “It’s quite clear you failed to a fundamental degree to accept the relationship is over.”

The judge sentenced him to nine months in prison for the new offences and activated the 12 week suspended sentence in full.

He also handed down a new seven year restraining order banning Barrow from contacing Ms Crossland.